Synthesis of Single-Phase Orthorhombic YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y Superconductor by Co-Decomposition of Metal Nitrates

Abstract

Co-decomposition of the mixture of Y, Ba, and Cu nitrates in the air at the atomic ratio of Y:Ba:Cu=1:2:3 led to the formation of single-phase orthorhombic YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y powders, of which the sintered pellets had the superconducting transition width within 1K. Applying X-ray diffraction and the resistivity measurements, this material was compared with the one produced from Y₂O₃, BaCO₃, and CuO by the solid state reaction.